IDF dismantles 10 outposts; Settlers vow to return
Haaretz 10/06/2003
IDF troops dismantled Monday night and Tuesday
morning the first 10 of an initial 15 illegal West
Bank settlement outposts slated for removal under
the terms of the U.S.-backed road map peace plan,
The IDF evacuation effort,
dubbed Operation Naked Hilltop,
could last for several days,
Israel Radio said...
Five more outposts are to be cleared in the coming
days, four of which are inhabited - Gilad Farm
(which has been evacuated four times in the past,
most recently in October 2002), Nofei Nehemia,
"693," next to Yitzhar, and Sh'vei Shomron to the
west.
Military sources said that the army intends to
remove a total of 94 outposts in the near
future.
The move was hailed by Washington. But Palestinian
officials greeted it with derision. "This is a
theatrical and insignificant step," said Nabil
Abu Rdainah, a top aide to Yasser Arafat.
haaretzdaily.com
My comment: Sharon is withdrawing, and negotiating, while Palestinian attacks continue. I am surprised, and encouraged, because I thought (mistakenly, it appears), that the process would stop here.
94 outposts meets my definition of "non-token". If the Israelis really do dismantle 94 outposts, and there is no reciprocal action by the Palestinians, Bush may let Sharon expel Arafat, and take whatever measures Sharon wants to, against Hamas. And they'll deserve it. |
